Welcome first-year law students!
We believe that great lawyers are forged through hard work, good training, and supportive mentors and peers. If you want to work with a team who will push you to perform your best, WIP is the place for you. We look for students committed to learning how to handle complex legal problems and the ambition to make a difference for our clients, our criminal justice system and ourselves. We select students based on their demonstrated interest in being part of our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of work will students take on?
Students start working on their cases almost immediately. They investigate claims of innocence by:
- reviewing police reports,
- interviewing witnesses,
- visiting courthouses,
- studying transcripts,
- consulting experts,
- obtaining affidavits, and
- identifying alternative perpetrators or causes of death.
What is the required time commitment for students?
Due to the size and complexity of our cases, WIP spans across two semesters. Students will be required to take at least 5 credits in the Fall and at least 3 credits in the Spring.
What kind of jobs do WIP alums pursue?
Our students go on to practice corporate law, civil rights, civil litigation, immigration, health care law, and, of course, criminal law. In recent years, our students have obtained jobs and internships at:
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- The United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
- The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court
- Jones Day
- Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
- Stafford Rosenbaum LLP
- Godfrey & Kahn S.C
- DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C
- Quarles & Brady
- The Milwaukee District's Attorney
- The Milwaukee Public Defender
- The Racine Public Defender
- The United States Department of Justice. Criminal Division.
- The Cook County Prosecutor's Office
- The Philadelphia District Attorney Office.
- The American Civil Liberties Union
- The Dane County District Attorney's Office
Learn More
For more information, contact Christopher Lau at christopher.lau@wisc.edu or Rachel Burg at rburg2@wisc.edu.
